Auxiliary ladder step assembly



March 3, 1959' R. F. LA PLAN'TE 2,876,047

' AUXILIARY LADDER .STEP ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 31, 1956 INVENTOR.

ROMEO F- LA DLANTE BY P A-r-roznevs is moved upwardly United StatesPatent 2,876,047 AUXILIARYLADDER STEP ASSEMBLY Romeo F. La Plante,Oneida, N. Y.

Application August 31, 1956, Serial No. 607,305 3 Claims. (Cl. 304-315The present invention relates generally to ladders, and specifically toan auxiliary ladder step assembly for use with an extension ladder, orthe like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary ladderstep assembly. which may be, attached to the upper section of anextension ladder and may be left attached to the upper section .whilethe upper section or downwardly relative to the ladder lower section. jj

,Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliaryladder step assembly which lends itself to easy portability, rapiderection upon a ladder portion, safe support of. the individual usingthe ladder, and speedy adjustment of the assembly to extension ladders,or the like, having various lengths between their rungs.

, A further object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliaryladder step assembly which is simple in construction, one sturdy instructure, and economical to manufacture in quantity, and one which ishighly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an extension ladder I with theauxiliary ladder step assembly of the present invention secured thereto,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, with a portion brokenaway, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33 ofFigure 1, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure l, and on anenlarged scale.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, the auxiliary ladderstep-assembly according to the present invention comprises a pair ofupright support members and 11 each of angle configuration arranged inparallel spaced relation and adapted for use with either a single laddersection or with the upper or lower ladder section of an extensionladder, as shown in Figure 1.

The support members 10 and 11 are arranged with respect to each other sothat one leg 12 of the member 10 faces the one leg 13 of the member 11with the other leg 14 of the member 10 parallel to the other leg 15 ofthe member 11.

When the auxiliary ladder step assembly of the present invention is usedwith'a ladder 16, the outer faces of the one legs 12 and 13 of themembers 10 and 11 respectively,

abuttingly engage the rungs 17 and 18 of the ladder 16, and the outerfaces of the other legs 14 and 15 of the members 10 and 11 respectively,abuttingly engage the inner faces of the rails 19 and 21 of the ladder16.

A plurality of horizontally disposed plates 22 are arranged insuperimposed spaced relation and are positioned so that each has itsrearward half portion extending between the support members 10 and 11and has its forward half portion positioned forwardly of the supportmembers 10 and 11. Each plate 22 has the end edges of its rearward halfportion fixedly secured by welding, or other means, to the inner facesof the other legs 14 and 15 of the support members 10 and 11respectively, and has the adjacent parts, of the side edge of therearward portion fixedly secured by welding, or other suitable *means tothe inner faces of the legs 12 and 13 of the support members 10 and 11respectively.

Means is provided on the members 10 and 11 for detachably securing themembers 10 and 11 to the ladder rungs 17 and 18. Specifically, thismeans comprises a pair of brackets 23 secured by bolt and wingnutassemblies 24 to the upper end of each of the support members 10 and 11,although only the bracket 23 associated with the support member 11 isillustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The upper end portions of the support members 10 and 11 are providedwith closed slots in which the bolts of the bolt andwing nutassemblies24 are slidable so that the brackets 23 may be adjustedvertically relative to the support members 10 and 11. The lower endportions of the support members 10 and 11 have, on the outer faces ofthe legs 12 and 13, outwardly projecting L-shaped brackets 25 which restupon the rung 18 and is held inplace by a third bracket 26 which isslidably mounted upon the outer face of the leg 13 of the support member11. upon the leg 12 of the support member 10 and is similarly movable toreceivingly engage the other end of the rung 18 against another bracket25 serving as a stop for the latter. Other bolt and wing nut assemblies27 form the means for releasably securing the brackets 25 and 26 intheir rung embracing positions.

Base means embodying a gusset plate 28 extends between and is fixedlysecured to each end of each of the plates 22 on the under side of theladder and to the adjacent portion of each of the legs 13 and 14 of themembers 10 and 11.

The forward edge of each of the plates 22 is bent downwardly to form alip 29, the under side of which engages the for-ward upper corner of therespective gusset plates 28 for securely holding the gusset plate 28 inthe assembled and welded position.

In use, the auxiliary ladder step assembly of the present invention isquickly and easily attached to any ladder by loosening the bolt and wingnut assemblies 27 and dropping down the brackets 26. The brackets 23 arethen hooked over the appropriate one of the rungs 17 and adjusted to thedistance between the rungs 17 and 19, so that the bracket 25 rests uponand forms a stop for the rung 18. The bracket 26 is then moved into theposition embracing the rung 18 and the bolt and wing nut assembly 27tightened, so that the auxiliary ladder step assembly of the presentinvention is securely fastened to the ladder 16 and may be transportedtherewith.

It is intended that the assembly of the present invention be constructedof lightweight metal so that it is of easy portability and also ofeconomical construction.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a ladder including spaced side rails and at least tworungs connecting the rails together, an auxiliary ladder step assemblycomprising a pair of upright support members each of angle configurationarranged in spaced relation so that one leg of one member faces one legof the other member with the other leg of said one member parallel tothe other leg of said other member, said members being adapted to havethe outer faces of said one legs abuttingly engage the rungs of saidladder and the outer faces of said other legs abuttingly engage theinner faces of said ladder rails, a plurality of horizontally disposedplates arranged in superimposed spaced relation and positioned so thateach has Patented "Mar. 3, 1959' Another bracket 26 is similarly mountedj a r 2,878,047

its rearward portion between said members and its forwardportion.forwardly of said members, each of said N plates having the end edges ofits rearward portion fixedly secured to the inner faces of said parallelother legs of said- -m cmbers andthe adjacent parts ofthe sideedge ofsaidg-nearward portion fixedly securedto-the inner faces of: said facingone- Iegsofsaidmembers, and means on Said facingzone. legs of saidmembers inwardly of the ends of said members for detachably securingsaid members tosaid, ladder rungs;

2. For use, with a ladder including spaced side rails and at, least tworungsconnecting' the rails together, an auxiliary ladder step assemblycomprising a pair of upright support members each of angle configurationarranged, in spaced relation so that one leg of one member faces;one legof the othermemberwith-the other leg of said one, member parallel to theother leg of said other member; said membersbeing adapted to have theouter faces of. said one legs-abuttingly engage the rungs of saidladder'and the outer facesof said other legs abuttingly engage the inner facesof said ladder rails, a plurality of horizontally disposed: platesarranged in superimposed spaced relation and positioned so that each has:its rearward half portion between said members and itsforwa-rd halfportion forwardly of said members, each of said plates having the endedges of its rearward half portionfixedly secured to the inner faces ofparallel other legs of said members and the adjacent parts of theside-edgeof; said rearward half portion fixedly secured to the innerfaces of said facing one legs of said members, means on said facing onelegs of said members inwardly of the ends of said members for detachablysecuring said members to, said ladder rungs, and brace means extendingbetween and fixedly secured to each end of each of said plates on theunder side of the ladder andthe adjacent portion of said parallel otherleg.

3. For-use With-a ladder including spaced side rails and at least tworungs connecting the rails together, an

"auiiiiar' iaaasr step assembly comprising a' pair 'of 'up right supportmembers eacli of angle configuration arranged in spaced relation so thatone leg of one member faces one leg of the other member with the otherleg of said one member parallel to the other leg of said other member,said members being adapted to have the outer faces of said one legsabuttingly engage the rungs of said ladder and the outer faces of saidother legs abuttingly engage the inner faces of said ladder rails, aplurality of horizontally disposed plates arranged in superimposedspacedrelation and positioned so that each has its rearward half portionbetween said members and its forward half portion forwardly of saidmembers, each of said plates having the end edges of its rearward halfportion fixedly secured to the inner faces of said parallel other legsof said members and adjacent parts of the sideedge of said rearward halfportion fixedly secured to the inner faces ofsaid facing one legs ofsaid members, and base means embodying a plate extending be tween andfixedly secured to each end of each of said plates von the under side ofthe ladder and the adjacent portion of said parallel other leg.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS221,780 Clark Nov. 18, 1879 966,852 Norton Aug. 9, 1910 1,045,099 WalkerNov. 19, 1912' 2,174,891 Maran Oct. 3, 1939 2,439,185 Patt Apr. 6, 19482,684,193 Buckley July 20, 1954

